Custom views are saved filters for recurring questions.
## Good View Candidates
- Active projects.
- People without a recent follow-up.
- Drafts ready for review.
- Notes changed this week.
- Events in a date range.
## View Definition
Saved views live as files in the vault. They describe filters, sorting, and visible columns using structured data.
## Filters
Custom views can use nested conditions, similar to Notion or Airtable filter groups. Combine `all` and `any` logic when a view needs to answer a more precise question than a single field filter can express.
Date filters support dynamic natural-language values such as `today`, `yesterday`, or `one week ago`. Use these for views that should keep moving over time, such as recent work, stale follow-ups, or upcoming events.
## Design The Question First
Before creating a view, write the question it answers. A good view is not "all fields with all filters"; it is a focused lens.
---
# Capture A Note
Source: guides/capture-a-note.md
URL: /guides/capture-a-note
# Capture A Note
Use capture when you need to get an idea into the vault before you know where it belongs.
## Steps
1. Press `Cmd+N` on macOS or `Ctrl+N` on Windows and Linux.
2. Write a clear H1.
3. Add the rough content.
4. Leave structure for later if you are still thinking.
## Capture Well
Prefer a useful title over a perfect taxonomy. You can add type, status, and relationships during inbox review.
## When To Add Structure Immediately
Add structure while capturing when the note's type or relationships are already obvious. Otherwise, capture the idea first and organize it later.
HoloLake Era can act as a lightweight Git client for a Git-enabled vault. You can manage commits and pushes yourself, or enable AutoGit to create conservative checkpoints after editing pauses or when the app is no longer active.
If the remote has changed, pull first and resolve any conflicts. If the vault has no remote, manual commits still give you local history, diffs, and rollback.
AutoGit is available in Settings for Git-enabled vaults. When enabled, HoloLake Era automatically commits and pushes saved local changes after an idle pause or after the app becomes inactive.
Use AutoGit when you want the safety of regular checkpoints without interrupting capture or editing. You can still inspect each note's current diff, review note history, and browse the whole-vault history before making larger manual commits.
## Use Small Commits
Small commits make it easier to understand what changed, roll back safely, and review AI-generated edits.
---
# Configure AI Models
Source: guides/configure-ai-models.md
URL: /guides/configure-ai-models
# Configure AI Models
Use model providers when you want chat over note context without giving an agent vault-write tools.
## Local Models
Local model targets are for tools such as Ollama and LM Studio. They usually need a base URL and model ID, and they usually do not need an API key.
## API Models
API model targets are for hosted providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, or another OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
Make sure the remote repository exists and your system Git can authenticate to it. HoloLake Era uses system Git rather than storing provider-specific credentials.
1. Open the bottom status bar remote chip, or run `Add Remote` from the command palette.
2. Paste the remote URL.
3. Confirm the remote name.
4. Fetch or push according to the app prompt.
## Recommended Auth
- SSH keys.
- GitHub CLI authentication.
- Existing Git credential helpers.
- macOS Keychain credentials for HTTPS remotes on macOS.
If authentication fails, see [Git Authentication](/troubleshooting/git-auth).
---
# Create Types
Source: guides/create-types.md
URL: /guides/create-types
# Create Types
Create a type when several notes share the same role in your system.
## Steps
1. Run `New Type` from the command palette, or click `+` in the Types header in the sidebar.
2. Give the type a clear name.
3. Add optional icon, color, sidebar order, sidebar label, pinned properties, suggested fields, default values, or a new-note template.
You can also right-click a type in the sidebar to change its icon and color.
```yaml
---
type: Type
_icon: briefcase
_color: blue
_sidebar_label: Projects
_order: 10
---
# Project
```
## Use Types Sparingly
A type should represent a recurring category, not a one-off label. If you only need a temporary grouping, use a saved view or property instead.
## Templates
Type documents can include a Markdown template for new notes of that type. Keep templates small and useful: a heading, a few expected fields, and the first checklist are usually enough.
You can store the template in the Type document's `template` frontmatter field. When hand-editing the Type document body, content after the Type note's own `# TypeName` heading is also used as the new-note template if it looks like template structure such as field labels, secondary headings, or checklist starters. Plain descriptive body text is ignored.
Type documents can also define fields for new notes. Empty properties and relationships become placeholders in new notes of that type. Properties with values become defaults for new notes of that type.
---
# Manage Display Preferences
Source: guides/manage-display-preferences.md
URL: /guides/manage-display-preferences
# Manage Display Preferences
Display preferences live in local app settings unless a setting is intentionally stored in the note or vault.
## Theme
Choose Light, Dark, or System in Settings. System follows the operating system appearance at runtime.
You can also switch theme mode from the command palette.
## Note Width
Set the default rich-editor width in Settings:
- **Normal** for focused writing.
- **Wide** for tables, diagrams, dense notes, and generated documents.
An individual note can override the default width from the editor toolbar. That override is stored as `_width` in the note frontmatter.
HoloLake Era can pluralize type names in the sidebar. Turn this off in Settings if your type names should be shown exactly as written, or use `_sidebar_label` on a type document for an explicit label.
Settings also control whether Gitignored files and non-Markdown file categories are visible in the app. Use these controls to keep generated or local-only files out of regular note workflows.
---
# Organize The Inbox
Source: guides/organize-inbox.md
URL: /guides/organize-inbox
# Organize The Inbox
Inbox review turns quick captures into usable knowledge.
## Remove A Note From Inbox
When a note is organized enough, mark it as organized. Use `Cmd+E` on macOS or `Ctrl+E` on Windows and Linux, or click the organize action in the breadcrumb bar.
That action is what removes the note from Inbox. If auto-advance is enabled in Settings > Workflow, HoloLake Era opens the next Inbox item immediately after you mark the current note organized.
HoloLake Era gives you two ways to ask for AI help: open the AI panel for an ongoing conversation, or prompt directly from the editor with `Cmd+K` followed by a space.
- **AI panel** is best for longer conversations, agent work, and requests that need visible back-and-forth.
- **Inline prompt** is best when you are already writing. Press `Cmd+K`, type a space, then write the prompt you want the AI to handle from the current note context.
## Choose A Target
Open Settings and choose the default AI target:
- **Coding agent** for tool-backed vault editing through Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi, or Antigravity CLI.
- **Local model** for Ollama or LM Studio chat over note context.
- **API model** for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
Use the palette when you know what you want to do but do not want to hunt through panels. It is also the best place to discover commands as the app grows.
Select an image, PDF, media file, or unsupported file from a folder or file list. HoloLake Era opens supported files in the app and offers an external-open action for files that should use the system default app.
If a preview does not render, open the file in the default app to confirm the file is valid, then check whether the file is inside the active vault and not blocked by operating-system permissions.
HoloLake Era spreadsheets are sheet notes: Markdown files with frontmatter and a CSV-like body that open in a spreadsheet editor when their `Display as` value is `Sheet`.
Use the command palette action `New Sheet`, or create/open a note and set its `Display as` to `Sheet` from the Properties panel. `Type` remains separate and can still be `Note`, `Project`, `Responsibility`, or any other HoloLake Era type.
HoloLake Era shows inline formula autocomplete while you type. The autocomplete list is built from the implemented function catalog in the bundled IronCalc engine; formula evaluation is still handled by IronCalc.
See [Spreadsheet Formulas](/reference/spreadsheet-functions) for syntax, supported examples, and links to the full IronCalc formula reference.
## Select And Edit Ranges
The sheet editor follows spreadsheet conventions:
- arrow keys move the active cell
-`Shift` plus arrow keys extends the selection
- drag to select a range
- copy and paste preserves formulas where possible
- cut and paste moves formulas and shifts relative references
- right-click a selected cell or range to apply formatting
Right-click actions apply to the current selection. Keep a multi-cell selection active before opening the context menu when you want to format several cells together.
## Format Cells
Use the context menu for common formatting:
- number formats such as plain numbers, currency, and percentages
- decimal precision
- bold and italic text
- alignment and clearing formatting when available
Formatting is stored as plain YAML under `_sheet`, not in an opaque workbook blob. For example, percentage formatting for `E6` is stored as:
```yaml
_sheet:
cells:
E6:
num_fmt: "0.00%"
```
See [Spreadsheet File Format](/reference/spreadsheet-format) for the full storage model.
When the cell is not being edited, HoloLake Era renders the wikilink like other note links. When you edit the cell, the raw `[[wikilink]]` syntax is shown again.
Numbers, booleans, and text properties can be used in formulas. Missing or ambiguous note targets, missing properties, and non-scalar values such as lists or nested objects show as spreadsheet errors.
## Work With The Raw File
A sheet file remains readable text:
```md
---
type: Project
_display: sheet
status: Draft
belongs_to:
- "[[business-plan]]"
_sheet:
frozen_rows: 1
columns:
A:
width: 180
---
Metric,January,February,March,Q1 Total
Subscriptions,1200,1350,1500,=SUM(B2:D2)
Services,800,900,750,=SUM(B3:D3)
Expenses,650,700,760,=SUM(B4:D4)
Net,=B2+B3-B4,=C2+C3-C4,=D2+D3-D4,=SUM(B5:D5)
```
When editing this file with scripts or AI agents, parse the body as CSV and preserve formulas as formulas. Do not replace formulas with displayed values.
---
# Use The Table Of Contents
Source: guides/use-table-of-contents.md
URL: /guides/use-table-of-contents
# Use The Table Of Contents
The table of contents panel helps you navigate long notes by heading.
## Open It
Use the editor toolbar, the command palette, or the shortcut:
